Making Oil Infusions
Making an oil infusion is a very simple process, but you must use a good quality oil.
I like to use olive oil and jojoba oil. It is advisable to know where your herbs
came from...of course, homegrown is always best. I think of it in terms of making a tea with oil, instead of water.
Take 2 cups of dried herb and place in a crockpot. Cover with vegetable oil.
With crockpot set on low, allow to infuse for 2 hours. You might also try the window sill method, wherein you decant the oil of choice over the herbs in a glass bottle or jar and allow to set in a sunny window sill for about one week. Once infused, strain oil through a fine filter. I use a wire mesh strainer lined with unbleached coffee filters or muslin. It is best to work with dried herb as then you do not have to worry about the potential
of bacteria forming as you do with fresh greens. Fresh greens contain water, and as we all know, water is the basis of life -- including bacteria's life.
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Herbal Water Infusions
Here are a few infusions you might consider trying when you have the proper herbs at hand.
An infusion is similar to a tea. Pour boiling water over an herb/s and allow it to steep. This will extract the active ingredients. Keep your infusions covered while steeping to keep the loss (through evaporation)
of important elements to a minimum.
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Mint Cleanser
a wonderful skin stimulant!
- 2 tspns fractionated coconut oil
1 tspn mint infusion
1/4 tspn apple cider vinegar
Mix the oil with the mint infusion and vinegar. Shake.
- Leaves skin soft and refreshed. Great during hot, humid weather.
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- Lemon Balm Infusion This mild infusion is good for oily skin. Rinse skin 3x daily.
Fennel Cleansing Lotion Good for all skin types.
1 tspn fennel infusion (1 c. boiling water to 1 tbspn crushed fennel seed)
1 tspn honey
2 tbspns buttermilk
Mix together and smooth lotion over skin to cleanse.
Rub gently. Wipe off with cotton ball soaked in fennel
infusion only (no honey/buttermilk). Pat dry. |
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